Story telling to land a job

By Debbie Mayo-Smith

Q. Debbie I know it’s important to sell yourself while interviewing. However I feel so uncomfortable tooting my own horn. Any suggestions?

A. Stand out from other candidates by getting your point across in a story. How you helped a client, worked in a team. Accomplishments detailed via a story rather than an “I did this” will make you more memorable and persuasive.

Telling a story well requires skill. Here are three tips to improve your success.

I/You Ratio Portray the story entirely in the listeners world. Instead of beginning with “I cut overheads by 10%” change it to “I’m sure you have staff that try to help cut costs”.

Description/DialogueGood stories have flesh and blood characters and dialogue. Tell your story through the conversations that occurred. Describe the people, the weather, set the scene. People think in pictures. Draw them with your words.

Hollywood it The story doesn’t have to start in the beginning, nor told in sequence A through Z. Movies don’t do that. Go for the dramatic statement, one that grabs and makes one want to know more. Then you go and back fill the story.

To highlight how your idea saved money you story could start: “You just saved this company $100,000” my manager Phil said with glee. Let me explain. You might have had cost cutting measures in your company like we did one year ago…. “